When Maximo Cavazzani, creator of the popular mobile game Trivia Crack, learned about Apple’s plan for a new smart watch, it seemed like a logical step to adapt his game for the new product. But the little watch had some big limitations.
Designers are generally optimistic about the possibilities of the new watch, but many are finding that designing for tiny screens requires a new approach.
Just as the development of apps has been crucial to the success of Apple's iPads and iPhones, the Apple Watch's popularity, and ultimately its sales, will depend in large part upon the apps outside developers come up with.
"You can do some cool stuff, but of course it has limitations," Cavazzani said, and making money "is a little bit complicated if it's not a paid app -- there's no way of putting ads and no way to do in-app purchases."
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Games are some of the most lucrative apps on the iPhone. Of the more than 5,600 apps created for the timepiece so far, about 10 percent are games, according to App Annie, a mobile analytics firm.
"Most people are super skeptical," said Tero Kuittinen, a managing director of Frank N. Magid Associates who consults with app developers. "You have to rethink every assumption you have" about keeping players engaged."